When I first heard that the proposed fire training facility was to be built at SUNY Ulster Community College, near my residence, I was torn. On the one hand, who am I to oppose a project that would surely benefit our local firefighters and first responders. They sacrifice much for us, so we too should sacrifice our peace at home for them.

To some degree, this makes sense, though it may not be a scenario where there is only one choice. For on the other hand, proximity of the intensive facility close to our homes presents numerous types of potential disturbances and threats. Fire, smoke, traffic, noise and sirens to name a few. While many firefighters came out in support of the facility at the recent Ulster County Legislature meeting, our neighbor, who is a retired firefighter of 25 years, opposes the facility so close to our community. He understands first hand, how much the county is asking us to sacrifice.

The information that I have leads me to favor looking at alternative sites, which seems reasonable considering the vast amount of space in our rural county. To be clear, the proposed site is not on the main campus of the college, but a property to the east surrounded by residences. Neighbors with whom I have spoken are in agreement, it makes no sense to put such an intensive facility near families, farms and homes. There are numerous environmental concerns as well; two of them are the shared water table below the proposed site and a neighboring mother of two with a very serious sensitivity to smoke.

Some claim all that is being asked is to conduct a study of the proposed site. I am skeptical. Spending tens of thousands of dollars to examine a site that may be ill-suited to the character of our residential community is risky. Sadly, that may be the intent. If money is spent on the study, then it may seem foolish to not move forward having already invested. Money creates another concern, the value of homes will surely decline if the proposed facility is sited so close. Part of the American Dream, for many, is to hold our homes as an investment for the future.

A majority of our legislators in Ulster County seemingly confirmed the concerns of our community, referring the resolution for funding the site study back to committee. An issue stated by legislators on the floor, and I echo, is that the community, and others, were not consulted about this proposed facility. As extreme weather becomes more and more so, first responders will play an even more critical role in our lives, so I sincerely hope that those who believe only one site in the county will do: to please consider if this is a false choice.

Gary Pennock
Stone Ridge

Everything associated with governments (local, state and federal) should all be as transparent as can be on all citizen related issues, not just when it applies to consolidation. I suspect that the villages of Ellenville and Highland Falls already know that the New York State Department of State has a matching grants program to fund professional studies related to their efforts to gain public efficiencies. With those funds, professional consultants can be retained to research and determine the best practical efficiency outcomes.

The best outcome might be for the Town of Wawarsing to become an expanded Village of Ellenville or for the village to be absorbed into the town or for a hybrid to emerge bringing both governments into Ulster County government. The same evaluation would apply to merger plans that are being debated regarding the Village of Highland Falls, the Town of Highlands and Orange County. They should all be explored. A "clean slate" study would clearly reveal the pros and cons surrounding each of the consolidation options.

Upstate communities and their local governments can't sustain expanded spending for even static government operations, with shrinking populations and ever dwindling tax bases. There seems to be two primary reasons to consolidate local governments: the significant reduction of property taxes and the promotion of economic prosperity within the merged communities. Our current operating model of local governance cannot achieve those ends.

Albert Colone
Oneonta

I may not be versed in judicial protocol, but wrong is wrong.

On April 17, I reported to the Ulster County Courthouse for jury duty, along with other potential jurors. Required start time: 9:15 a.m.

We all waited until 9:35 a.m. and were told the judge was "held up" and we could take a break and we had to be back by 10 a.m.. So, like good citizens, we complied.

At 10:15 a.m., still no judge. The judge was called "off site," we were told, and should arrive soon.

At 10:30 a.m., we are told to rise by a woman who didn't even introduce herself, and we were sworn in. A silent collective sigh of relief as we had been awaiting for this moment for over an hour.

But this, too, was a tease. The judge was not close by.

At 11 a.m., we are given another break.

Seriously, this was just wrong. I had to leave as I am the sole proprietor of a small dog-boarding business with no employees and no one but me to take care of the needs of the dogs entrusted to me. This was not only an inconvenience, but it was rude and inconsiderate.

Everyone seemed to be as disgruntled as I was.

Evidently, the judge was not present until after noon.

Other people had to reschedule as well.

Another shining example of "Do as I say, not as I do."

Mary R. Cicale
High Falls

We live in a world of reality, knowing there is a winner and a loser in every competition, and that includes the political election process. We teach those in sports that a good loser is also a winner because losing doesn't affect your friendship with your opponents.

Our political representatives were elected by the people to serve all the people in solidarity, regardless of their party affiliation or which side of the aisle they sit on.

Knowing the results of the presidential election resulted from some questionable guesswork by both the losing party and the media, I don't understand why they refuse to accept their loss as good losers, congratulate the victors and join forces to keep our country the best and the strongest and the most powerful as it always has been.

Our worldwide image is at stake, and the picture being presented by the losers is doing nothing but to give the U.S. a giant black eye.

Let's get over it, accept defeat gracefully, and do the job to which you were elected — to make America great again. Give the winner a chance to lead.

Joseph E. Sills
Ulster Park

This Keystone Kop administration has so many people running around bumping into one another with no clear plan but to completely blow up domestic policy and foreign policy. It is difficult to stay vigilant with so much falling apart. As a result there are issues flying under the radar in hopes that we won't notice.

One such issue is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is part of the Dodd-Frank Act. Since 2011, this agency has helped 27 million Americans receive $12 billion in financial relief as a result of fraud. It exposed the Wells Fargo scandal of creating fake accounts. It is now working on a case where RD Legal Funding is alleged to have scammed 9/11 first responders and NFL concussion victims.

So why does U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, call it a "rogue agency"? Could it be that we have a rogue elephant in the White House?

Nancy Guski
Red Hook

President Trump should stop wasting his time on trying to build a wall n the borders of the USA. With all of the politicians that are still crying over the outcome of the election, they are doing everything they can to have sanctuary cities, sanctuary counties, etc.

He should just build welcoming centers along the borders and stop risking the lives of the men and women who are trying to keep immigrants from entering the USA illegally. He could put Democrats and liberal politicians to run the welcoming centers. They could hand out maps and brochures to show the immigrants where to look for sanctuary cities.

It is strange that if an American citizen wants to apply for a job, car loan, homeowners loan they have to have a background check (to see) if they have a criminal record. But if you are not here legally you are exempted from all of that and city or county government will make sure you have a job, a place to live and transportation to the doctor's, etc.

The American people seem to have lost contact with reality. You do not allow a hornets nest in your backyard and believe you will not get stung. These sanctuary cities cry when the yearly budget comes around, saying they have a hard time taking care of the American taxpayer, but they are willing to increase the population of their cities which will cost most of the taxpayers of these cities to pay. Raise American peoples taxes to support illegal immigrants. That's right — illegal. Where I come from means you have committed a crime. For instance, illegal trespassing which there are penalties for doing so.

Oh, yeah, did you hug a terrorist today?

Richard T. Cantwell, Sr.
Saugerties

Our current president voiced his strong support for serial sex abuser Bill O'Reilly. Meanwhile, O'Reilly's former boss, Roger Ailes also said he continued to support O'Reilly. Ailes has since been ousted amid his own sexual harassment claims. Meanwhile, O'Reilly tries to denigrate his numerous accusers claiming a witch hunt.

What's interesting about this story is that it highlights what many white men among the powerful elite think about women. The disgusting conversation the president had as a candidate is unforgettable.

Then we can look at the GOP who are trying their best to get women back into the bedroom and kitchen where they apparently believe we all belong.

Let us as women and the men who stand with us continue to show our muscles and power in fighting against this continuing assault as we wrest power from these old and boring white power elitists.

Please be sure your voice is heard by protesting, resisting and contacting your elected officials to voice strong displeasure.

Jo Galante Cicale
Saugerties

As you know, the climate and environment are under siege, and our current administration poses an even greater risk to an already troubling situation. As part of our local response to raise consciousness around the climate change fight, New Paltz Climate Action Coalition is organizing three buses to the People's Climate March in Washington, DC on 4/29. Bus tickets are $60 for community members and $25 for students. We feel it's our duty to bring students and community together in a massive showing to Washington's doorstep to defend our stance on the climate and environment, and to find sources of hope in solidarity. Purchase tickets at www.newpaltzclimateaction.org or reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

To change everything, we need everyone.

Suzanne Flaum, Coordinator
New Paltz Climate Action Coalition

Last Wednesday an asteroid, the size of The Rock of Gibraltar, missed colliding with the earth by an imperceptible hundreds of a billionth of a degree. That fractional variance at its origin in deep space would have concluded for the human race what a similar event concluded for the dinosaurs. The dinosaurs didn't have much of an agenda other than eating, procreating and sleeping. That's our conclusion being we have never found iPhones, guns, watches or plastic garbage bags in the sedimentary layers containing their fossil bones. Those Dinos never knew what took them out! And like them most of us never knew what almost just took us humans out with our credit cards, BMWs, opiates, McDonald's burgers, nuclear missiles, Google, diet soda, laptops, hair dye, Wall Street traders, pacemakers, tattoos, scented toilet paper, religions, external hardrives, breast implants, Levis, Netflix, mac&cheese, baby boomers, income tax and twitter. Maybe this near miss is warning us its time to put our ingenious heads together and focus on more important stuff... like armageddon.

Chuck Davidson
Cragsmoor